Community Lounge, Introductions and General Discussion Discussion, What are you listening to? in General Discussion; Somewhere over the Rainbow - Israel &quot;IZ&quot; Kamakawiwo&#699;ole
IZ wasn't in a very good physical shape, but had a very ...

IZ wasn't in a very good physical shape, but had a very nice voice though.....

Like that tune too and had it in my list of songs in post # 182. Unfortunately, IZ was a compulsive eater and his death resulted from his severe obesity. At one point in his life he reportedly weighed more than 700+ pounds. Sad ending for someone blessed with a beautiful voice.

Re: What are you listening to?

Originally Posted by talismandave

What do you need my friend?

Well, if you could find one, I want a Theory of a Deadman cassette of their eponymous album ( since that's like the only one that would exist on cassette) just cause I have a cassette deck, and it'd be kinda cool to use it. It also brings back memories of younger times

Re: What are you listening to?

Thank you, Ben, for bring IZ to my attention. I enjoyed his rendition of "Over the Rainbow." It also brought back the memory of another Hawaiian entertainer who I enjoyed very much and was fortunate to have known and seen perform on many occasions.

His name was Kui Lee, I don't know whether he is still highly thought of in the Islands, but in the mid sixties, just before he died at age 34, he was considered one of the very best of the Hawaiian singer songwriters. At the time I knew him, Spring of 1966 (just before he died of cancer) he was performing nightly at the old Queen's Surf supper club. The Queen's Surf was located on park land in Kapiolani Park next store to the Waikiki Aquarium. A group of us grad students who lived at the aquarium used to sit on the beach, which was the backside of the open stage where Kui Lee performed. Since we were an almost nightly presence at his performances we got to know him, and when things were slow he would invite us in for a drink during the break between his shows. It was a rare treat to know on a casual basis a performer who would become known in his final days as one of Hawaii's foremost performers and songwriters. Many of the songs that Don Ho became famous for and performed down in the Hawaiian Market place were written by Kui. Now Don Ho is gone too, but I am sure there are new young performers to keep his music alive.

(While amny of you may not have heard of Kui Lee, you have probably heard the song that he wrote and which became famous to a greater American audience when Elvis presley recorded it, "I'll Remember You."